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7.3 Transporting and Shipping Hazardous Materials

These guidelines are intended to help minimize hazards to University of Minnesota personnel and help ensure safe and compliant transporting of hazardous materials. Only trained and certified UMN employees are allowed to transport hazardous chemicals in designated University vehicles.

Transport of hazardous materials via public or shared transportation is prohibited. Under NO circumstances may public transportation (e.g., UMN BUSES, SHUTTLES, Twin Cities buses, private taxis, Light Rail Transportaion (LRT), etc.) be used for transport of hazardous materials.

Chemicals - Small Quantities (< 20 liters)

Transporting Chemicals Between University Labs or Buildings (on Foot)

Individual chemical containers (≤4 liters) can be hand delivered by employees using a rubber bucket or other equally effective means to prevent and contain spills or other releases

Up to ~20 liters can be transported on a sturdy cart within a connected or to nearby buildings

Secure the material so it will not fall off the cart

Ensure individual containers are labeled to accurately describe the contents. Original manufacturers’ labels should be sufficient. Replace damaged or illegible labels

Check containers and lids for damage and cracks. Replace any faulty caps or containers. Damaged containers cannot be transported

Use sturdy moving boxes, plastic bins, or original packing boxes. Breakable containers should be avoided

Use non-reactive packing materials

DO NOT transport hazardous chemicals on UMN shuttles or rental vehicles, public transportation, or personal vehicles

Avoid public areas and use freight elevators whenever possible

Upon arrival at the new location, ensure personnel check contents for damage, remove chemicals from the packing boxes, and place the chemicals in designated storage locations

Resources

For additional information contact the UHS Research Safety Professional assigned to your college by contacting the DEHS office at (612) 626-6002.

Delivery via Courier on Campus

U Market Services offers a courier service for items that need to be picked up and delivered quickly. The average turnaround time for completion is 3 hours, but urgent delivery is accommodated as needed. Out-state rush shipments can also be arranged for an additional charge.

Ensure individual containers are labeled to accurately describe the contents. Original manufacturers’ labels should be sufficient. Replace damaged or illegible labels.

Check containers and lids for damage and cracks. Replace any faulty caps or containers. Damaged containers cannot be transported.

Use sturdy moving boxes, plastic bins, or original packing boxes.

Use non-reactive packing materials.

Arrangements for transport can be made online with the UMarket Campus Courier, or by calling U Market Services Customer Support at (612) 624-4878.

Shipping Chemicals off Campus

U Market Services offers full outgoing shipping services through UPS and FedEx at the KE and BDD Docks and can help with hazardous materials shipping if requested in advance.

For more information, contact U Market at the following locations and numbers: KE Dock: (612) 626-3777 BDD Dock: (612) 626-2748

Work areas intending to ship hazardous chemicals on a regular basis will find it more efficient and cost effective to work directly with a delivery service. In order to package and ship chemicals legally without assistance from UMarket work area personnel must be trained and certified in hazardous materials shipping. For further information and to obtain training, contact the hazardous waste officer, at (612) 626-1604 or dehs@umn.edu.

Chemicals – Large Quantities (> 20 liters)

Transport of large quantities of chemicals between buildings or across campus must be conducted by UMN Hazardous Waste or other certified hazardous material transporter.

Exception: With approval from UHS, laboratory personnel may transport larger quantities of chemicals within connected buildings. Obtain approval from the UHS Research Safety Professional assigned to your college by contacting the DEHS office at (612) 626-6002.

Transporting Large Quantities of Chemicals

Contact UMN Hazardous Waste at 612-624-6870, or dehs@umn.edu to coordinate a date and time for pickup.

If this is part of a laboratory relocation, coordinate with your project manager to assign the cost appropriately.

Inspect chemical stock and dispose of old and unneeded chemicals.

Ensure individual containers are labeled to accurately describe the contents. Original manufacturers’ labels should be sufficient. Replace damaged or illegible labels.

Check containers and lids for damage and cracks. Replace any faulty caps or containers. Damaged containers cannot be transported.

Tightly cap all bottles and stand them upright. Beakers, bottles, and flasks covered with foil, parafilm, or ground glass stoppers must be repackaged in to containers with sealable tops. Corks and stoppers are not sealable caps — bottles with these closures will need to be over packed into larger containers that can be tightly capped.

Disconnect gas cylinders from regulators and equipment. Cap all cylinders. Caps may be obtained in advance from UHS Hazardous Waste.

Contact your vendor to schedule liquid nitrogen pickup and transport, and re-connection of cylinders in new location.

Hazardous Waste personnel will review the chemical lists, inspect the containers, and package the chemicals for the move.

Upon arrival at the new location, laboratory personnel must check contents for damage, remove chemicals from the packing boxes, and place the chemicals in designated storage locations.